Who We Are

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY COMMISSION

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission of Ghana is an independent body set up to regulate and oversee the provision of the highest quality of electricity and water services to consumers. Please explore our website for valuable information on what we are doing for you, our Public.

At present, PURC only regulates the electricity and water sectors.

The commission is made up of nine members and includes a Chairman, an Executive Secretary, an institutional representative each for Labour (TUC), Industry (AGI), and domestic consumers, as well as 4 experts in various aspects of the commission’s work. The commissioners are appointed by the president in consultation with the council of state for five-year terms, which are renewable. The commission is supported by a secretariat headed by the Executive Secretary.

FUNCTIONS OF THE PURC

In summary, PURC’s key tasks are to:

Provide guidelines for rates to be charged for the provision of utility services.

Examine and approve water and electricity rates;

Protect the interest of consumers and provides of utility services;

Monitor and enforce standards of performance for provision of utility services;

Promote fair competition among public utilities;

Receive and investigate complaints and settle disputes between consumers and public utility.

Advise any person or authority in respect of any public utility.

Under the Energy Commission Act 1997 (Act 541), PURC is also required to approve charges for the supply, transportation and distribution of electricity and natural gas as well as the bulk storage and transportation of petroleum products.

Act 538 gives PURC the power to make regulations that are necessary for the implementation of its mandates under the act. Two such regulations have been issued by the Commission. They are the Public Utilities (Termination of Service) Regulations 1999, LI 1651 which set out the circumstances under which utility service to consumers may be terminated, and the Public Utilities (Complaints Procedure) regulations 1999, LI 1651 which specifies the procedures by which nay person (utility or consumer) may lodge a complaint with the commission. Thee regulations have been reprinted in easy to understand brochures and are available at the Commission’s offices.

The Commission welcomes views from the public, as well as consumers’ comments and complaints about their utility service. Such comments and complaints do not only help the Commission to protect consumer interests, but they are also an invaluable means of assisting the Commission to monitor the efficiency of the utility companies.